Method of forming d-handles



June 30, 1931. w. A. READY 1,812,373

IETHOD OF FORMING D-HANDLES Original Filed Feb. 19. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1931. w. A. READY IETHOD OF FORMING D-HANDLES Original Filed Feb. 19. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w w .U-. mi a w J V "U 1 F 0 I I W (a fly M find PW] i Fatented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. READY, OF BROOKLINE, IlllASSACI-IUSETTS METHOD OF FORMING LID-HANDLES Original application filed February 19, 1929, Serial No. 341,131. Divided. and. this application filed October 8, 1929. Serial No. 398,201.

My invention aims to provide improvements in the method of forming D-handles for shovels and the like. 1

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 341,131, filed February 19, 1929. v

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is an elevation ofthe D-handle and part of a stale to which it is attached:

' Fig. 2 includes a face view and section of one-half of the metal casing part before it is attached to a stale;

Fig. 3 is a view of the complete casing before it is attached to a stale and bent;

Fig. 4 is a view of the split end of a stale to which the metal casing is to be attached;

Fig. 5 is a section through the casing and stale before bending and shaping;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the casing and stale and also the grip-piece, showing the two portions of the casing and stale spread to form a Y for forming a handle and permit insertion of the grip-piece between the grip-receiving sockets;

Fig. 7 is a section through the completed D-handle, showing the arrangement of the parts;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of locking the grip-piece in the sockets to prevent rotation;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the two metal arms are welded together for a portion of their length at one end.

Referring now to the form of my invention illustrated by the drawings, I will first describe the structure of my D-handle and then the method of securing the-parts 'together. i

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7, I have showna D-handle which is a combination of wood and metal and provides a simple, durable and attractive handle particularly adapted for rough, hard usuage.

The metal part of the handle is in the form of a casing which is made up of two similar hollow, tubular portions or arms 1 pressed from sheet metal. The metal part is shown as Y-shaped and the two sections are secured together at the lower end for a portion of their length by welding the inwardly bent flange portions 2 (Figs. 2 and 10) of one tubular portion 1 with the cooperating flange portions of the other portion 1. The flanges 3-3 of each arm 1 are bent to meet at the inner face of the arm (Fig. 2) where they may be welded together to provide a substantially D-shaped crosssection. A reinforcing strip 4 may be welded to the inner faces of the flanges 3-3, if necessary, to prevent them from pulling apart.

The free ends of each arm 1 are rounded into cup-like portions to provide opposed grip-receiving sockets 5 between which the grip-piece 6 is held by a rivet 7 passing through the sockets 5 and center of the grippiece 6. The rivet 7 is headed at both ends into countersunk portions 8, thereby to hold the metal arms 1 against the ends of the grip-piece 6. The upper ends of the flanges 3-3 are bent inwardly at right angles to provide V-shaped means 9 at one side of each of the grip-receiving sockets and the inwardly turned portions are again bent to rest against the inner sides of the front face of the arms where they are welded to strengthen the V-shaped portion. This V-shaped portion presents flat surfaces which are located slightly inside of a circle, the diameter of the end 10 of the grip-piece 6 (Fig. 8), so that when the ends 10 of the grip-piece are forced into the sockets 5 the wood is compressed, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. By thus flattening the ends of the grippiece 6, I provide a locking means which prevents turning of the grip-piece 6.

The wooden stale or stem 11 of the shovel or other implement is first prepared for receiving the metal part of the handle by turning down the end to provide a shoulder 12 against which the edges 13 of the arms 1 abut. Then the turned down portion is preferably divided by a saw-cut 14, one portion of which is narrow to receive the welded flange portions 2 and the remainder of which is slightly wider (Fig. at) to receive the flanges 33 and reinforcing strip 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the handle is completely assembled, the wooden arms of the stem are .teler scoped into the metal arms of the casing whereby the casing forms a connection between the wooden grip-piece 6 and the stem.

Any suitable methodmay be employed to fit the wooden arms 15 of the stem 11 into the metal arms 1. For instance, I may employ substantially the same method as illustrated and described in the United States Letters Patent N 0. 1,477,742, issued to Thomas W. YVright December 18, 1923. However, I have invented a novel method which I have illustrated in Figs. 3 through 7, and which I will now describe.

Instead-of pro-forming the metal part of the handle to the shape of a Y and then forcing the arms 15 of the stem into the Y, I prefer to leave the metal casing straight, so that the arms 1 are parallel and then insert the split portion of the stem into the casing, as shown in Fig. 5. Thereafter I employ suitably shaped die means v(not shown) whereby the metal arms 2, together.

with the wooden arms 15, are formed into substantially the shape shown in Fig. 6. Then the grip-piece is inserted in position and the upper ends of the Y are forced toward each other, thereby forcing the sockets 5 over the ends 10 of the grip-piece 6. The rivet 7 is then secured in place and the D-handle is completed and ready for use.

The exact point at which the ends of the wooden arms 15 terminate is not particularly important, but I prefer to have them terminate beyond the curved portions 16, so that the tubular arms will retain their proper shape as to cross-section during the forming operations.

My method of assembly is particularly simple and I have found that it is unnecessary to steam the. stale before spreading the arms. This is particularly advantageous because the wood has a tendency to shrink after steaming and, therefore, my method of bending the arms 15, while they are dry, eliminates the possibility of looseness between the arms 2 and the arms 15. Furthermore, I have found that the welded flange portions 2-prevent splitting of the woodat the end of the saw-cut 14 and eliminates the necessity for the usual rivet at this point.

My handle is simple and durable and the method of assembly reduces the number of operations to a minimum, while at the same time providing a handle which is superior in quality and construction to any handle of this general type now known to me. 7

'While I have illustrated and described a preferred construction ofmy device and a preferred method of assembly, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention will be best understood by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of producing a D-handle which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms, dividing a portion of one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms, inserting the wooden arms of the stem into the hollow metal arms and then bending the metal arms and the wooden arms together into a substantially Y-shaped formation- 2. A method of producing a D-handle which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms, dividing a portion of ,one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms, inserting the wooden arms of the stem into the hollow metal arms and then bending the metal arms and the wooden arms together into a substantially Y shaped formation and then securing a grip-piece between the open ends .of the Y.

3. A method of producing a V D-hand'le structure for shovels and like implements which comprises dividing a portion of one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms, telescoping a longitudinally divided hollow casing .over oneend of the longitudinally .divided'stale, thereby to provide metal covered arms at one end of the stale, and bending the metal covered arms into divergent positions.

4. method of producing the forked structure of a handle of the D-type which comprises dividing one end of a stale into a pair of connecting portions assembling sub: stantially semi-cylindrical metallic casings in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinally divided end of the stale by telescoping the end of the longitudinally divided stale thereinto to provide metal covered arms at its extremity, bending the arms into divergent position and securing them in such position. 1

5. A method of producing the forked structure of a D type handle from a straight stale which comprises longitudinallydividing an end of the stale, to provide arms side by side, encasing said arms in metalliccoverings, bending the arms so covered into divergent position, and securing them in such position. I

6. A method of producing the forked structureof a D-type handle from a straight stale which comprises longitudinally dividing an end of the stale, to'provide'arms side by side, assembling side by side metallic casings suitable for covering said arms, inserting said arms in said casings by a longitudina'l approach of one to another, bending the arms into divergent positions, and securing a grip-piece between the free ends of :the metallic casing.

7. A method of producing a D-handle which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms, welding said hollow arms together adjacent to their lower ends, dividing a portion of one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms, inserting the wooden arms of the stem into the hollow metal arms and then bending the metal arms and the wooden arms together into a substantially Y-shaped formation and then securing a grip-piece between the open ends of the Y.

8. A method of producing a D-handle which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms dividing a portion of one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms of shorter length than the length of the hollow metal arms, inserting the wooden arms of the stem into the hollow metal arms and then bending the metal arms and the wooden arms together into a substantially Y-shaped formation. a

9. A method of producing a D-handle 3 which comprises forming a metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms, securing said hollow arms together adjacent to their lower ends, dividing a portion of one end of a stem longitudinally to provide a pair of parallel wooden arms of shorter length than the length of the hollow metal arms, inserting the wooden arms of the stem into the hollow metal arms and then bending the metal arms and the wooden arms together into a substantially Y-shaped formation and securing a grip-piece between the open ends of the Y so that the ends of the grippiece overlap the ends of the wooden arms.

10. A method of producing a D-handle which comprises forming a sheet metal part with two separate parallel hollow arms secured together at one end of the metal part, securing the metal part to one end of a stale while the arms are in parallel relation, bending the metal arms into a substantially Y-shaped formation diverging from the point where they are secured and then securing a grip-piece between the spaced ends of the arms.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM A. READY. 

